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Bight stinkfish (Foetorepus phasis) — Callionymidae

Bight stinkfish

Foetorepus phasis
Family: Callionymidae

The Bight stinkfish (Foetorepus phasis) is a saltwater fish of the family Callionymidae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
13 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
160.0–200.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The bight stinkfish is a dragonet (Callionymidae) from coastal waters of southern Australia. The species grows to about 13 cm and has a flattened, forward-tapering, reddish-mottled body with eyes on top of the head and, in males, a high, finely marked first dorsal fin. As a bottom-dweller it lives on sand and mud bottoms of deeper coastal waters and picks small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bight stinkfish?

The Bight stinkfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly red-orange and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Bight stinkfish live?

The Bight stinkfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Bight stinkfish get?

The Bight stinkfish grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Bight stinkfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Bight stinkfish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Australische stinkpitvis sourced
English name
Bight stinkfish sourced
Scientific name
Foetorepus phasis
Family
Callionymidae
Other names
Deep-water dragonet; Dragonet; Longray stinkfish; Long-rayed stinkfish; South Australian bigeye dragonet verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
13.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
160.0 verified
Max depth (m)
200.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Foetorepus

More from the family Callionymidae

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